By Vicky Falcón
NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

Sixteen Black Belts in the NAVAIR AIRSpeed program have been chosen as the first Master Black Belts for the organization. Master Black Belts are the key to making AIRSpeed a self-sustaining program as they gradually take over training and mentoring from the George Group (the consulting firm that presently trains Green Belts and Black Belts).

“This is a milestone along the road to maturity for NAVAIR’s AIRSpeed program,” said Michael Meaney, one of the new Master Black Belts from NAVAIR Orlando. Meaney, who was a Systems Program Manager, is excited about the prospects.

“This opens up a new world of opportunity and makes me of more value to the organization,” he said. “AIRSpeed is definitely a huge asset to NAVAIR and the Navy as a whole and will lead to a more efficient and effective organization. My personal goal is to grow and mature with AIRSpeed until it becomes part of our corporate culture and way of life.”

Joan Devlin, another new Master Black Belt and former contract specialist at Patuxent River, agrees. “I’ve been working toward this job for two years now and I’m thrilled and excited about the opportunity.”

“In the 30 years I’ve been working in the government,” said Devlin, “Lean/Six Sigma is the only thing I’ve seen that has really worked.”

The new Master Black Belts were chosen from the pool of NAVAIR Black Belts – high performing, strategic thinkers selected by their level one supervisors to lead projects, train and coach project teams. Master Black Belts will train and coach Green Belts and Black Belts, as well as lead AIRSpeed projects in an effort to develop more efficient processes and achieve cost-wise readiness throughout NAVAIR.

The new Master Black Belts are: Joan Devlin, Patuxent River; Thomas LaBatt, Patuxent River; Bryan Pilgrim, North Island; Stephen Whetstone, Patuxent River; Michael Meaney, Orlando; Aaron Whitaker, North Island; Dave Theilacker, Jacksonville; Randall Gay, Cherry Point; Stephen Goad, China Lake; David Parker, Patuxent River; Gary Blakely, Patuxent River; Jeff Flesher, Patuxent River; Stephanie Wood, Patuxent River; AnnMarie Abell, Patuxent River; Barry Barefoot, Patuxent River; and Randel Stone, Patuxent River.

For more information about NAVAIR AIRSpeed, go to http://www.navair.navy.mil/navairairspeed/.